Toy missile and launcher



May 12, 1964 J. M. BARR 3,132,442

Toy Mrssmz AND LAUNCHER Filed July 1o, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 12,1964 J. M. BARR 3,132,442

TOY MISSILE AND LAUNCHER Filed July l0, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lINVENTOR. www/Maze/fm/ ee May 12, 1964 J. M. BARR 3,132,442

TOY MISSILE AND LAUNCHER Filed July l0, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 12,1964 Filed July l0 1961 J. M. BARR 3,132,442 TOY Mrssms AND LAUNCHER 4Sheets-Sheet 4 p invention.

Patented May 12, 1964 A 3,132,442 'l'Y MISSILE AND LAUNCHER JosiahMorrison Barr, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assigner to American Machine (itFoundry Co., a corporation f New Jersey Filed July 10, 1951, Ser. No.122,814

7 Claims. (Cl. tti- 77) This invention relates to toy missiles and moreparticularly to the equippingof toy aircraft, or other toys, withreleasable, self-propelled missiles and missile launchers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a selfpropelled, releasabletoy missile and a missile launcher for such toys as toy aircraft, orother movable or stationary toys, such as a toy comprising only amissile launcher equipped with aplurality or" missiles.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for mounting andreleasing toy missiles from toy aircraft and other toys.`

It is still another object of this invention to provide a remote controlmechanism for releasing self-propelled missiles from a missile launcher.

Additional objects of this invention will be understood more clearlyfrom the Idescription of the invention given in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

The novel features which are believed to be character- `istic of theinvention, both as 'to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be betterunderstood from the following description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which several embodiments of the inventionare illustrated by way of example. lt is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are vfor the purpose of illustration anddescription only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy aircraft with the missilesmounted on the wings of the aircraft.

FIG. 2 is a top plan wiew of a missile.

FIG. 3 is Ia sectional View of a missile, missile launcher and oi thewing taken along line 3 3 show-n in PIG.` 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the missile, missile launcher,and of a string used for releasing the missile lfrom the launcher.

` FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stationary missile launcher. i

FIG. y6 is a perspective View of missile launching, or release,mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toy automobile with two missilesmounted on the roof of the car.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the missile release mechanism for releasingmissileswhen they are mounted on toy ve- `iicles, such `as thecarillustrated in FlG. 7. j

The missile launcher can be mounted either on a toy aircraft or lon someother stationary or moving toy, as will become apparent from whatfollows: v j

Referring tothe drawings, the toy aircraft is illustra-ted at 1t). 'It`is a monoplane having wings 12 and 14, fuselage 16, engine 1S,propeller 20 and `a tail portion 22 with appropriate rudder surfaces 24and 26 for controlling the flight of the aircraft. The aircraft isprovided with control wires 23 and 29 for controlling the ilight of theaircraft and it is also provided with a missile release string Si). Oneend of said string is held in the hand of the operator of the aircraftand the opposite end of the string is attached to the tip of wing 14 ata point 32, with the result that string 30 extends lalmost through theentire length, or span, of the wing sections 12 and 14 and beyond to theoperator. Two missiles 34 and 36 are mounted under the wings and thesemissiles are releasable by pulling on string Eil in the manner which isdescribed more in` detail below.

The top plan View of the missile is illustrated in FIG, `2. The missileincludes a central, hollow tubular member Ztltl, which, in the preferredform, is a slotted tube, a front linger, or impact rod 201, which litsdirectly into the central tube 20u` with its inner end 292. Finger 2011and tube 200 are provided with slots to accommodate a front iiightstabilizer 2li-4 which is provided with a ilat surface bounded bydiverging edges 205 and Zilli, and converging edges 267 and 2%. Thecentral tubular member 26) and the front impact rod 201 thus areconnected to each other not only by slipping rod Zilli into the hollowcylinder 20u, but by also interconnecting these two members by means ofthe flight stabilizer 264, all three members Miti, 201 and 204 forming arigidly connected assembly. The entire missile may be made either ofwood or synthetic plastic, in which case itpmay be injection molded byusing high impact styrene, high density polyethylene oracrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

The central tubular member Ztlt is provided with a 'slot 214B whichextends from end-to-end of tube 260, terminating the rear end 211 andthefront end 212, which are produced by the insertion of rod 201 andstabilizer 218 into tube Zilli. Slot 2lb is used for inserting themissile launcher Silit, PEG. 3, into the slot in ,the manner indicatedin FIG. 3. The missile is also provided with a helical coil spring 214iwhich forms a sliding lit Within tube 26h. Tube 2li@ is connected to thellight tail stabilizers of the missile including three tail stabilizers216, 217, and 215, which are rigidly connected by means of the frontextensions, such as extension 22d on stabilizer 217, to the rear end oftube Zilli. The missile launcher 30@ is cemented to the wings l2 and `14of aircraft 1li in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The launcher 31N)dorms a sliding iit with slot 2i@- in tube 26u.

In orderto mount the missile on the wings of the aircraft, spring 2id isslid tothe front portion of tube 20h, and it is thus compressed inthemanner indicated in FIG. 3. Spring 214 is held in a compressed statebythe front edge 302 of the missile launcher. The rear edge 394 of thelauncher engages the rear edge 211 of the missile, and the missile isthus .held securely `on the launcher because of the pressure exerted byspring 21d on the front edge 3% of the launcher and the pressureengagement between the edges 3554 and 211.

Missile launcher 30h is provided with an `orifice 306 positioned closeto its lower edge 388 and rear edge 304 and string Sil passes throughoriiice 3%. The path followed by string Btl in passing through orificeSile is illustrated in FIG., 4 where it is indicated that string Si)follows a U-shaped path intl because orice 3% and the lower edge 3%ofthe missile launcher extends into the tubular member 2li@ to such anextent that orifice Sill@ is positioned at the lower edge of the missileslot 210.

lt, therefore, yfollows that the missile can be released by pulling thestring. When a pull is exe-med cn string 3l), the string will straightenitself out along a straight line path and thus eliminate the U-shapedpobtion 4W. When this takes place, then string Sil will exert `apressure on the rear end of tube 200, and this will release edge 211from its pressure engagement with Ithe edge 30d lof the missile launcherButi, thus releasing the missile by slipping the rea-r portion of themissile from the launcher. The compressed spring 214 twill then at oncebe tree to expand and such expansion of spring 214 will impart a veryhigh Aforward velociy to the missile because cf the pressure exemted bythe spring on the front edge 2112 of the missile, with the result thatthe missile will ily ahead -of the plane, converting the potentialenergy of the spring into thehigh kinetic energy of the missile.

snaai-.1.2

Because of the ight stabilizer 204 and the three ight stabilizers 2.16,217 and 218, the missile will have good dynamic stability and stillfollow a trajectory of its own immediately upon leaving `he plane.

It is possible to release either one or two missiles simutaneously bypulling on string 30. If only a slight pull is exerted on stning 30,then only the nearest missile 36, FIG. 1, is released. However, if astrong pull is exerted on string 30, then both missiles are releasedsimultaneously.

FIG. l6 lalso illustrates a mechanism for releasing one missile at atime when the missile launcher includes a plurality of missiles. rThistype of missile launcher mechanism can also be used on aircraft when aplurality of mlssiles .are mounted. This type of release mechanism be`described later.

FIG. illustrates either -a stationary or rotatable missile launchermounted on :a stand 500. 'Ilhe vertical column 501 may be either astationary ior rotatable column. On top of the column there is mounted1a plate 502 having a plurality `or" vertical bars 503-508, whichcorrespond to bar 300 in FIG. 3. The only difference between themounting of the missile in FIGS. 1-3 and that illustrated in FIG. 5 isthat while in FIGS. 1-3, bar 300 is suspended from wing 12 or 14 and ishanging down from the wing; in FIG. 5 bars 503-508 rest on plate 502 andproject upwardly from plate 502. In other Words, the missile launcher ofFIGS. 1 3 has been inverted, or turned, 180 and the functioning of thelauncher otherwise is identical to that illustrated in the earlieriigures. String 510 corresponds to string in the earlier ligures and itperforms the same function as str-ing 30 in the earlier gures. Themissile launcher of FlG. 5 can be made rotatable by rotating column 501either by means of la spring :or a string which `can be wound aroundcolumn 501. Also, two strings can be wound `around column 501, onestring being wound in a clockwise direction while the other is wound ina counter-clockwise direction, so :as to turn this column either in yaclockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction, thus aiming thelauncher. This is illust-rated by stml'ogs 517 and 514.

In FIG. 5, string 510, as -a rule, will release all the missiles iat thesame time. A different 'arrangement may be used rfor releasing themissiles, in which case only one missile is released at a time, and thisis illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, plate 600 corresponds to plate 502 in FIG. 5 andthe vertical bars 601-604 `correspond to the vertical bars 503-508. Themissile shafts are illustra-ted at 60S-608. A raised boss 610 isprovided `on plate 600 and plate 600 is `also provided withrectangularly-shaped bosses 611, 612 and 613, which are mounted anywherebetween the bars 601 :and 604-, with one boss being mounted between thetwo adjacent rectangular bars 601-604. 'Ille missile launcher mechanismis then provided wit-l1 la string for each individual missile, fourstrings 614, 615, 616 and 617 being illustrated in FIG. 6, because tourmissiles are illustrated in the same ligure. String 614 then passesthrough holes 620, 6211 and 622 of the vertical bars 601, 602 and 603.It then passes through the upper hole 623 of bar 611 and then throughthe upper hole 624 of bar `604. When string 614 is pulled it will haveno effect on the missiles 605, 606 and 607, but it will release mis-Sile 608 because the string will be tightened and will follow a straightline path indicated by dotted line 62S which raises the tail end of themissile and thus releases it from bar 604 in the manner describedpreviously.

The same is also true or all the remaining strings 615, 616, and 617,which will release their own respective missiles when they are pulledeither simultaneously or in succession, depending upon the desire of theoperator to release either one missile at ya time or all of themsimultaneously.

FIG. 7 illustrates the mounting of two missiles on a toy car 700, lwiththe vertical plates 701 and 7 02 being mounted on the left and rightsides respectively on top 704. Two strings 705 and 706 are provided forreleasing the missiles and the release mechanism is also provided withbrackets 710 and 711 which correspond to brackets 516 and 518 in FIG. 5.The strings then pass through :an opening in a bushing 708 and thesestrings 705 and 706 are also illustrated FIG. 8 when they are connectedto a crank shaft `800. Crank shaft S00 is geared by means of gears 801and 302 to a rear axle 803 of the toy car and when the toy car isactuated by a suitable mechanism such as =a spring, Iaxle 805 isrotated, with the result that the crank shaft 800 is also rotatedthrough gears 1 and 802. When the crank shaft reaches its lowestposition with respect to the top of the car, strings 705 and 706 aretightened, with the result that the missiles are released.

In this case, the two missiles are released simultaneously, but they canbe released separately by providing separate releases for each missileof the type illustrated in FIG. 8.

What I claim as new is:

1. A toy missile launching apparatus comprising (a) a missile launcherincluding front and rear missileengaging members spaced from each otherby a iixed distance;

(b) a missile having a central hollow member,

(c) a slit in said hollow member for receiving said front and rearmembers, said slit having front and rear edges;

(d) a helical compression spring forming a sliding lit with, and mountedwithin, said hollow member,

(e) said compression spring being compressed in the forward portion ofsaid hollow member when said missile is mounted on said launcher withthe aid of said slit and said members, with the rear end of saidcompression spring engaging said front missile-engaging member and therear edge of said slit engaging the rear missile-engaging member, and

(f) missile releasing means for sliding said missile ofi said rearmember for releasing said missile from said launcher.

2. The toy missile launching apparatus as defined in claim l in whichsaid missile releasing means includes a recess positioned in and closeto the outer end of said rear missile-engaging member, a string passingthrough said recess, said string following a U-shaped path at the point0f passing through said recess and through the adjacent portion of theslot of said missile, said string, when pulled, releasing said missilefrom said launcher and said front and rear members by pushing saidmissile oli said rear member and by launching said missile in forwarddirection from said launcher because of the release and pressure of saidspring on said front member and also on said missile, whereby thepotential energy of the spring is converted into the kinetic energy ofsaid missile.

3. The missile launching apparatus as defined in claim l in which saidmissile releasing means also includes remote control means for releasingsaid missile from said launcher.

4. A toy aircraft comprising a wing, a missile launcher mounted undersaid wing, said launcher comprising a substantially rectangular platehaving front and rear edges and a detent in the vicinity of the rearedge and bottom of said rectangular plate, a self-propelled missilemounted on said plate, said missile having a central tube with a slitextending through the length of said tube, a helical coil spring mountedin a sliding engagement with said tube, and front and rear flightstabilizing members connected to said tube, said rectangular platefitting into said slit and into said tube when said missile is mountedon said plate with the coil spring being compressed between the frontend of said tube and the front edge of said plate, and the rear end ofsaid tube engaging the rear edge of said plate, and a string passingthrough said detent for remote control release of said missile from saidplate.

5. A toy missile comprising (a) a single stage missile, said missileincluding (b) a hollow central member, and

air-tassa (c) a helical spring .mounted in sliding engagement Withinsaid member, said spring constituting a part of said missile and flyingwith said missile upon release of said missile,

(d) said helical spring extending through the greater part of the lengthof said central member and (e) a front impact rod at the front end ofsaid missile closing olf the front end of said hollow central member,and

(f) iiight control surfaces at the rear end of said central memberclosing off the rear end of said central member,

(g) said spring being sealed in said hollow central member by saidimpact rod and said Hight control surfaces.

6. A toy missile as dened in claim 5 which includes (a) a slit in saidhollow central member,

(b) a missile launcher comprising a rectangular elongated member iittinginto said slit,

(c) said elongated member having a length shorter than the length ofsaid slit,

(d) said elongated member compressing said spring into the front portionor' said hollow central mem ber when said missile is mounted on saidmissili launcher with the aid of said slit.

7. A toy missile as defined in claim 5 and including 5 further (a) amissile launching member; and

(b) a slit extending through the length of said central member, saidslit accommodating said missile launching member for engagement with andcompression oi said spring when said missile is mounted on said missilelaunching member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A TOY MISSILE LAUNCHING APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A MISSILE LAUNCHERINCLUDING FRONT AND REAR MISSILEENGAGING MEMBERS SPACED FROM EACH OTHERBY A FIXED DISTANCE; (B) A MISSILE HAVING A CENTRAL HOLLOW MEMBER, (C) ASLIT IN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER FOR RECEIVING SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS,SAID SLIT HAVING FRONT AND REAR EDGES; (D) A HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRINGFORMING A SLIDING FIT WITH, AND MOUNTED WITHIN, SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, (E)SAID COMPRESSION SPRING BEING COMPRESSED IN THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAIDHOLLOW MEMBER WHEN SAID MISSILE IS MOUNTED ON SAID LAUNCHER WITH THE AIDOF SAID SLIT AND SAID MEMBERS, WITH THE REAR END OF SAID COMPRESSIONSPRING ENGAGING SAID FRONT MISSILE-ENGAGING MEMBER AND THE REAR EDGE OFSAID SLIT ENGAGING THE REAR MISSILE-ENGAGING MEMBER, AND